The East Coast stars are the Finger Lakes, Long Island, Niagara Peninsula, and Virginia. However, we've had very nice wines from just about every state and province in the East. Nearer to you is the Erie Region of PA that has at least a half dozen of wineries worth exploring.

Long Island: some good wines, though sometimes price points make value a question. Best I've had are from Paumanok, Lenz, Macari, Old Field Vinteyards (disclaimer: latter are friends, and I've even picked a grape or a thousand. ). Jamesport whites are nice.

Chautauqua is improved a lot (Johnson, Mazza, Merritt, Vetter)and is fairly close to Ohio, Niagara Falls NY is a short distance from there and is becoming brilliant (Warm Lake, Niagara Landing, Freedom Run) and So. Ontario (Niagara on the Lake and Jordan) is less than an hour from there with Cave Spring along with Vineland and Flat Rock- see currant Niagara Cool Thread and Konzelman, Stratus and Ch Des Charmes- see 3yr old Niagaracool threads. I'd suggest planning an Ontario Trip and stopping in Chautauqua and Niagara County along the way.

From my tastings over the last 3 years, Linden is far and away the quality leader in Virginia. I actually think most of their wines are worth the money asked, which is a big if at most wineries in the state.

Paumanok on Long Island is my favorite winery in NY. Chaddsford in Pennsylvania is quite good.

Talk less, smile more. Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for.

after the finger lakes wine competition i checked the identities of the wines that most excited me. i was shocked at the number of 'third world' wines. from the east coast i was impressed with wines from: Gray Ghost(VA) for a bordeaux blend; Torrey Ridge(Seneca Lake) for a lemberger; Jamesport (LI) for a semi-dry riesling; Widmer(Finger Lakes) for the same; Sheldrake(Finger) for a dry riesling; Hazlitt(Finger Lakes) for the same; Rappahanock(VA) for a seyval; Goose Watch(Finger) for a Villard; Nassau Valley(DE) for pinot grigio; 45North(MI) for the same; Cannon River(MN) for a white hybrid blend; Presque Isle(OH) for a traminette and also for a cab. sauv.; Jefferson(VA) for a meritage and for a viognier; Lieb(LI) for a chardonnay.these are just the wines that came past my panel of course.

In Virginia I would look for Cabernet Franc in the reds and Vigonier in the whites, although Chardonnay and Riesling are both doing well. The best producers seem to be Barboursville, Linden, and maybe Jefferson. there are some others on the way up. In the Finger Lakes Riesling is king (or is that queen) and all the best wines are Rieslings. There is good Cabernet Franc and to a lesser extent good chardonnay and pinot noir. The best producer seems to be Dr. Frank's. I think Ontario may be the best region I have been to as I have not ventured to the west coast. The Rieslings were world class and the pinot noir and chardonnay was excellent as was the Cabernet Franc. Cave Springs was the top producer we visited this past weekend. I wouldn't hesitate to buy their wines.

Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knowsThat too many people have died?The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the windThe answer is blowin' in the wind.

Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:JR wrote......Cave Springs was the top producer we visited this past weekend. I wouldn't hesitate to buy their wines.

The `05 Cab Franc is here, did you get a chance to taste JR?

I'm not JR, but I was there with him (besides, I think he's traveling to MI this weekend) and we did indeed taste the '05 Cab Franc. Very nice stuff. However, I limited my purchases to wine I can't buy in NY State. I can buy it in Buffalo (at Ed's store). However, the best Cab Franc we tasted was a 2000 from Vineland. They had it tucked away in a special place and I had to make a special request to get it. We drank it that night with prime rib.

Bob Parsons Alberta. wrote:JR wrote......Cave Springs was the top producer we visited this past weekend. I wouldn't hesitate to buy their wines.

The `05 Cab Franc is here, did you get a chance to taste JR?

I'm not JR, but I was there with him (besides, I think he's traveling to MI this weekend) and we did indeed taste the '05 Cab Franc. Very nice stuff. However, I limited my purchases to wine I can't buy in NY State. I can buy it in Buffalo (at Ed's store). However, the best Cab Franc we tasted was a 2000 from Vineland. They had it tucked away in a special place and I had to make a special request to get it. We drank it that night with prime rib.

It was excellent too. Very young. It probably needed 5-7 more years to come around, but it tasted soooo good with the prime rib.

Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knowsThat too many people have died?The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the windThe answer is blowin' in the wind.